Automatic cut-off



w. G. coLonN. AUTOMATIC CUT-OFF.

APPUCATION FILED JAN-13. 1919.

Patented May 6, 1919.

WILLIAM G. coLBoRN, or RAVEN, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC CUT-Orr.

Specication of Letters Patent.-

Patented May 6, 1919.

Application led January 13, 1919. Serial No. 270,953.

predetermined time, in fordery `to preventwaste of current and expense from such waste when current has been inadvertently left on when no longer serving a useful purose.

p My invention relates to a casing or frame in which certain parts are to be found for effecting this purpose, and in this casing or frame I may place, and usually do place a plug and socket, the plug being adapted to the ordinary electric light Socket and the socket being adapted to receive t-he ordinary ping when connected to lamps, irons, heatdevices, etc..

'n said casing or'frame I mount a timing device, and lconnected with said device some means, ere shown an armi or lever,

whereby the timing device may be wound up and the circuit closed from the plug to the socket. The timing device, after a certain interval, carries the winding arm to a positionpin which the circuit is interrupted after a predetermined interval.

My vinWe-nticn is intended to be used for various purposesas for instance for sluit ting oil current from a iiatiron, currentfrom a lamp, from an electric stove, from a bed warming device, from cookingdevices, and from. various other devices in connection with which current is to be used for a comparatively short time.

In the drawing which forms a part of this invention: l

Figure 1 illustrates my device connected to a ilatircn. Y

Fig. 2 is a view of my device with the casingpartly in section, showing interior features.

Fig. 3 is a section through my device and Fig. 4 is a top sectional view showing the timingl mechanism.

In the drawing, 1 represents an ordinary electric light socket ,depending from the ce1l1ng, and 2 my device screwed into said socket. In the socket end of my device at I have shown the iron 4, to be heated Vby electricity. The upper or plug end of my device 3 has the usual outside metal screw thread 5 and the usual plug 6. Connected with the screw part 5` I show a wire 7 which is carried through the device and connects with thescrew thread part 8 of the socket end, so that the connection is complete, the screws 9 and 10 eifering perfect electric connection.

The. center rod 6 is connected by suitable means 11 with the upper one of a pair of curved metal contacts 12 and 13 which are insulated from each other by insulation indicated at 14., so that they are free to spring toward each each other. TheseA contacts thus separated are arranged on a partition or diaphragm 15 between the upper and lower parts of my cut off, and the lower one, 13, is electrically connected by conductors 16 with the center plug 17, of the socket part. It will be obvious that when the conductor is placed between the two contacting members 12 and 18, current may pass, and that when no conductor is present current will not pass.

On the diaphragm 15 I mount a clock train 18 provided with an escapement 19 and drivin@ spring 20. Connected to the said driving spring is an arm or lever 21, which is adapted, when turned to ,the right as shown in Jig. i, to wind up said spring by said arm or 'lever being on the center post 22. The contacts 12 and 13 heretofore alluded to, are curved, as shown in Fig. Li, on a radius drawn from a center of the winding post, and on saidlever 21 and eX- tending between these contacts I provide a rotating 'thirnble or sleeve .23 of brass or other conductor, so arranged as to bridge the gap betweeny the upper and lower ccntacts.

It will 'be seen, therefore, that aslong as said 'part 23 is between the contacts, current will pass.

I arrange the clock train so that in running down itwill .carry the arm 21 with the thimblel or roiler 23 to the left until it escapes from between said contacts and is arrested by the post or stop 24 from further movemcnt.

I provide the ann 21 with' an insulating plug of an ordinary latf other without contacting with handle 25 preferably, vand preferably, Ivinsulate the thimble 23 by a suitable insula necessary to do in using this device is to attach the plug or the wire to the socket of the device and screw the plug of the cut oii into the wall or chandelier socket, then the arm or lever is turned to the right, as shown in Fig. 4:,until it strikes against the stops 26', and this winds the clock train. The clock train in unwinding carries the thimble 23 between thecontacts and closes the circuit through the iron, or whatever device is used. l5 I propose, in adapting my device in connection with the use of latirons, -to provide for a contact period, say of fifteen minutes', so that it ywill be necs'sary for the laundress, in order t0 keep her iron hot, to turn the` arm or lever every fifteen minutes. It is the eX- perience of many housekeepers that irons are sometimes left standing for -hoursl and days even, with the current fully on. This is not only wasteful and expensive but is a 25 common cause of lires.` The iron does not v glow like a lamp, and unobserving persons will fail to perceive that the current may be on. Of course the interval which I have suggested is merely arbitrary andmay be increased or diminished to any desired eX- tent.

Similarly, lights used-only occasionally in closets, cellars, etc., may be provided with one of my -cut off plugs, and they will, of

'35 course, go outof theirown accord after a .certain interval. Other devices and uses, as.

indicated' above, readily suggest themselves.

Of course I provide the usual insulation for the sockets and plugs, and my diaphragm 40 ,15 is preferably made of'fiber or other insulating material. This diaphragm need not be continuous but may be merely a skeleton. I reservev the right touse equivalents. It will thus be seenljthat Ihave invented 45, a l( :onvenient and handy device of .little weight, of simple construction, one thatis.

useful anywhere by anybody, requires no skill, one that is safe,`cannot get out of 'order readily, and one that is substantially fool prooi.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is:'k

1... In a device for controlling time of current flow in combination, a socket plug at one end of the device, a plug receiving socket at the other, circuits between them and in one of said circuits, a clock driven- `lever, said lever being adapted to wind said clock mechanism4 in movement in one direction and to be made to reverse its movement by. the clock train, the clock train 'controlling the time of said reverse movement and the period of current How.

v2. In a circuit cut-0E in combination, a

clocktrain, a lever for Winding said train, and a switch of which said lever forms a part, the said clock train being adapted to control the period during which the circuit is closed through the switch.

3. In a circuit cut-olf in combination, a spring driven clock train having an escape ment therein, a lever, said lever forming one member of a switch, said lever adapted in motion in one direction, to wind said spring Ameasuring device, aA circuit around said time measuring-device, and means for energizing saidtime measuring device, said last named means forming part of said circuit and vclosing the circuit while the energiz' able device remains potentially active.

6. In an automatic cut-o' for breaking a circuit after a defined interval of time, in combination, a frame, a plug and socket in said frame, connections from said plug to said socket, and in one of ,said connections,a clock driven lever, said lever serving to wind said clock and to be itselfpmoved by said clock to a circuit breaking position.

7. In an automaticdelayed action cut-oft' for electric circuits,A in combination, a y holder, a plug and a socket therein, there being electrical connection between the. two, a spring. driven clock train, a lever for Winding saidtrain,.and adapted to be returned 'by said train,'cond'uctors arranged on either sideof the 1path of said lever, 'inl part, and in ,contact therewith whereby4 as ong as the path of said lever corresponds with said conductors, av circuit is completed, but at other'tim'es is broken. v

8. In combination, a frame, aY plug and socket in said frame, a direct connection between one of the contacts of both the plug f and socket, a partition of insulating mateA rial in said frame, elongated fixed contact members, mounted in insulated relation on said partition, a' movable `member arranged to be moved between -said elongated members, to close a circuit between them, one of them being connected to the' plug and the other to the:.-socket, and means adapted to 'be energized by 'movement ofsaid movable member to cause it ltopass between said elongated members.

9. In a circuit cut-off, inv combination, a

rame, a plug and a socket vin said frame, a conductorvon one slde, an msulateddia- 186 izo' phragm in said frame, elongated switch members arranged in insulated relation to each other on said diaphragm, a clock train mounted on said diaphragm, a lever for winding said clock train, said lever passing in part of its movement, between said insulated switch members, and making contactitherewith, and conductors to said members .from the plug and socket, whereby b moving the lever in one direction the cloc i is wound up and the carries said lever between said switch members to close the circuit between them.

10. In apcircuit cut-od, a frame,'connec tions from vone side of said frame to the other, one connection being continuous and the other interrupted, a movable arm, arranged to have a limited traverse, elongated contact members arran ed on each side of part of the traverse o? said arm, and arranged to contact with said arm, and a device for moving said arm, said device adaptclock in unwinding ture.

ed to be Ienergized by movement of the arm in one direction, and to move the arm with a slow motion between s'aid ,contacts in the other direction.

1l. ln a delayed action cutoff, in combination, a frame, a socket and plugin said frame, conductors between said socket and plug, in one of said conductorsthere being arranged means whereby a circuit may be interrupted or may be closed for a predetermined period, said means including an arm and elongated Contact plates, a clock train adapted to be wound by said 'arm and to move said arm past the said contacts, and an insulated conductor en said arm arranged to conduct current directly from one contact plate to the other during-.tbe traverse of said arm past the plates.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signaw. e'. eoLBoRN. 

